Envy

Talking with Jongdae had, like Hei suggested, surprisingly solved all of Baekhyun’s current problems. Well, most.

AKA romance counselling with Kim Jongdae, 101.

Set: Chapter 23/24 of Cutlass, after Baekhyun and Jongdae’s talk.

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Hei was right that Jongdae wasn’t nearly half as bad, and surprisingly both understanding and sympathetic, in his own way. Which was mainly badmouthing the Byun family, something Baekhyun had absolutely no problem with.

It was when Jongdae was mentioning how Hei had been the only source of company for him the past week when the niggling discomfort he had held back became full blown. For some reason, now that they’d laid everything bare between them, all Baekhyun could think about was Song Hei heading up the stairs next to Jongdae, and his concern over her, and the fact that she probably spent most of her time with Jongdae. Which was fine. It was great. He was just curious.

“Kim Jongdae,” Baekhyun started slowly, and said man broke off and arched an eyebrow at him. “What do you think of Hei?”

Jongdae stared at him like he’d grown a second head. “Hei?”

“You spend a lot of time with her, so I was wondering.”

Jongdae still looked a bit mystified by his question, but he shrugged. “She’s a sweet person and I like being around her. Why?”

Baekhyun pondered his next words for fifteen seconds too long. He hadn’t meant to, or to panic, because he really didn’t care what Jongdae thought, but contrary to his desperate attempts of self-justification, what came out was, “Do you have… feelings for her?”

Baekhyun wanted to die the moment the words came out. He never sounded uncertain. He never was uncertain. He was too old to be talking about feelings like a schoolboy, especially not over Hei, who was just a crew member and a friend. He didn’t have time for that. I’m just curious about Jongdae, Baekhyun told himself, but he was thoroughly unconvinced. It was also ten seconds past redemption.

Jongdae also remained dead silent for a couple of seconds. Then, “Hei?”

Feigning nonchalance, Baekhyun shrugged. “You two would be… good together.” That didn’t taste bitter at all.

Jongdae stared at him for a long moment, which, in any situation, Baekhyun would’ve found hilarious because Kim Jongdae was rarely at a loss for words. In a desperate attempt to salvage what was left of his dignity and cursing himself for saying something so stupid, he managed, “For what it’s worth, I think she likes you too.” It sounded more like a question than a statement.

Jongdae finally seemed to unfreeze. He shook his head. “You think I like Song Hei? As in, romantically? And that she likes me back?”

Baekhyun frowned. “Yes…?”

Having finally gotten over his shock, Jongdae burst out laughing.

Now very much regretting ever opening his mouth, Baekhyun leaned back against the stairs, folded his arms, trying to keep himself from sounding too defensive. “You know, given that you would only talk to her, it’s a fair assumption. Don’t laugh at me.”

Jongdae shook his head, body still shaking. “How are you this obvious?”

“Obvious,” Baekhyun repeated, now beginning to regret following Hei’s request and talking to Jongdae. (Although it was less because of Hei than because of his own slip-up.) “What’s obvious?”

“Song Hei,” Jongdae said with a straight face at last. He leaned forward